Aerial centrifugal way.



PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1903. e. L. HAGBN. AERIAL GBNIRIFUGAL WAY. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17I 1903.

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No. 738,434. PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1903. G. L. HAGEN. AERIAL GENTRIFUGAL WAY.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17,. 19103.

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WITNESSE [NVEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

No. 738,434. PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1903. G. L. HAGEN.

AERIAL GENTRIFUGAL WAY.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1903.

no MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET s.

ATTORNEY.

WITNESSES- I r. v. v NVENTOR.

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UNITED STATES Fatentecl September 8, 1903 PATENT OFFICE.

AERIAL CENIT'RIFUGAL WAY;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,434, dated September 8, 1903 Application filed June 17,1903. Serial No. 161,786- (No model.)

T0 at whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAUDE L. HAGEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aerial Centrifugal W'ays, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to aerial centrifugal ways, and in particular to aerial ways in which a carrier travels around a loop, the carrier being provided with means for enabling a rider to hang therefrom in any desired manner and the rider traveling around the loop under the action of centrifugal force.

The object of'my invention is to provide a loop which will enable a performer to whirl.

around it under the action of centrifugal force, said force acting for part or all of the time against the force of gravity and tending to urge the body of the rider in a direction that is radial with respect to the loop.

A further object of my invention is to provide a means whereby the rider is enabled to leave the loop in a manner calculated to attract the attention of the spectators.

A further object of my invention is to provide a loop for amusement purposes that can be easily taken apart, transported, and set up again at a new place of amusement.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the parts, improvements, and combinations set out in the claims.

Amusement cableways have been constructed in which the performer is permitted to travel along the way while under the action of the force of gravity. In such cases the way has been so constructed and arranged that as little centrifugal force as possible was developed in order that the rider might glide down the way without swinging from side to side of his path of travel; but so far as I am aware no way has been built with a loopin it around which the rider whirls while under the action of centrifugal force, the centrifugal force acting either all the time or part of the time against the force of gravity and the riders bod remainin outside of the wa n 3 Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the entire apparatus. Fig. 2 is a rear end elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a detail showing the cable provided with its armored covering.

Fig. 4 is a section through the cable showing the carrier in end elevation. Fig. 5 is a side view of the carrier. Fig. 6 is a detail showing the manner of connecting the loop with supporting-arms. Fig. 7 is a detail showing the guard for the carrier. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section showing the means for securing the cable to the loop. Fig. 9 is a detail, and Fig. 10 shows a modification.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 indi+ cates the framework carrying a platform 2, on which the rider or performer stands at starting. The incline down which the rider travels before reaching the loop may be of any desired form. Either one or two tracks may be used, and the track may be of any desired section or construction, but is preferably made of uniform cross-section. The function of the incline is merely togive the rider sufficient velocity. I prefer to use a single-track or rail-like support on which the carrier is freely supported, and this track preferably consists of a single cableway. As shown, this cableway is constructed of a fiexible rope 3, provided with armored coveringsections 4. These sections provide a track of uniform cross-section that may be readily taken apart and transported and that will enable the carrier for the rider to travel smoothly upon it with very little friction. The abutting endsof the adjacent tube-sections,which in the present instance form the armor of the rope, are joined in any desired manner. They are preferably beveled in order to center the sections one with respect to the other and to keep them centered while the carrier is trav eling along the track. els of the sections tapered in such amanner as to form a yielding flexible joint.v In the form of joint shown at 4 the inside cone has a blunter taper than the outside cone. This, however, is not necessary, and the form of joint may be widely varied without departing from the spirit of the invention. In order to press the tube-sectionslagainst each other,

and thus provide a smooth track at the joints,

any suitable means may be used. I prefer, however, to use some means for yie'ldingly pressing the tube-sections together to provide for the slight end play which will occur as the car passes from one tubesection to the next. Such a means is illustrated in Fig. 3

I have shown the bevand is preferably located at the upper end of the incline. A clamping collar 5 is secured to the cable, and a threaded sleeve 6, through which the cable passes, lies between the collar 5 and a loose collar 7, which is adjacent to the upper tube-section and bears against it. A spring 8 is interposed between the collar 7 and the adjacent nut 9, the latter being threaded on the sleeve 6. By adjusting the nut along the sleeve the tension of the spring may be varied and the tube-sections pressed together with the rightdegree of pressure to keep the joints always in contact. The cable is put under tension by ahy desired means as, for example, the turnbuckle 6. At the lower end of the incline the cable is secured to the loop in any desired manner. I prefer to insert the cable in one end of the loop and apart.

' cross-section throughout, and the loop is preferably built up of the same size tubing as is used for the armor of the cable, so as to preserve a uniform track. Any desired means of supporting the loop may be used; but it is desirable to so support the loop, incline, and terminal section that the rider or performer will be in plain view through the entire ride from any direction. I also prefer to use an interior supporting means for the loop, to which the loop is connected in any desired manner.

In accordance with the construction shown I prefer to use stanchions-12, which are connected by suitable cross-bars 13 and 13 Guy-ropes 14 are used to firmly hold the stanchions in place. Any desired means of supporting the loop from this framework may be used. I prefer to arrange one of the crossbars 13 so as to pass through the axis of the loop and to support the loop therefrom by a series of arms 15, which in the present instance are radial. At their inner ends the arms 15 are secured to collars 16, which are arranged side by side on the cross-bar 13. At their outer ends each of the arms 15 is provided with an angle-iron or bracket 16. These brackets 16 are secured to the arms in'any desired manner. As shown, the outer end of the arm is riveted to the bracket near the head of the bracket by a rivet 17 and is secured to the base of the bracket by means of a staple 18, which passes around the arm and is riveted at its opposite ends in the bracket. In this way the maximum strength of the radial arm is. retained. The bracket is preferably made of a wide metal plate and is provided at its outer end with a lateral extension which, as shown, projects at its end through a suitable slot in the side of the tube forming the loop. Preferably the tube forming the loop is divided into sections, each sectionextending from the center of one bracket to the center of the next bracket, the bracket entering the meeting ends of both adjacent sections. At the adjacent ends of two sections the joint 18 is made in any desired manner. I have shown one form of joint in Fig. 8. On each side of the lateral extension of the plate a half-round iron filling-piece 19 is arranged, and the tube-sections are firmly secured to the bracket by means of screws 20, which pass in opposite directions through one side of the tube-sections and are threaded into the half-round filling-pieces and the lateral extension of the bracket. By reason of this construction a solid joint is made, which firmly retains theends of the tubesectionsin accurate alinement with each otherand at the same time enables the loop to be readily taken apart and set up.

It is desirable to have the loop arranged in the form of a helical spiral, and I prefer to set it up vertically. I accomplish this in the present instance by so proportioning the sleeves 16 that the arms 15 will lie side by side, the tube-sections being thus supported on a spiral curve. I have shown the spiral arranged vertically and a projection of the loop on avertical plane to be a circle; but neither of these ways of arranging the loop are essential. The loop may be more or less inclined to the vertical or even horizontal, and its projection may be oval or of any other shape. To provide a free way for the carrier through the length of the loop, the lateral extensions ofthe brackets, which secure the loop-sections to the radial arms, are all arranged on one side of the way of the loop. The entering and exit sections of the loop are preferablysupported in part by short arms 21, which project downwardly from suitable sleeves 22, arranged on the cross-bar 13, and having a lateral extension similar to the lateral extensions 16. Any desired means for making the loop more stable and to prevent its tendency to turn may be used. I prefer to provide a pair of upwardly arranged braces 23, which extend from the cross-bar 13 to the brackets arranged on opposite sides of the horizontal diametrical line of the loop. Any desired means for taking up the side strain and preventing the loop from being deflected transversely may be used. I prefer to provide guy-wires 23' and 23, which'are IIO secured to brackets at the top of the loop and I to the transverse rod at their lower ends. The first section of the loop to which the cable 3 is attached is somewhat shorter than the other sections, as shown in Fig. 1, and is supported at or near its outer end by an arm 24 similar to the arms 15 and similarly mounted on the transverse shaft 13. For the purpose of resisting the endwise strain on this section due to the pull on the cable3 I preferably connect the bracket 25 at the outer end of the radial arm 24: to the transverse bar 13 by means of a short horizontal brace 26. I prefer to provide a free projecting end section for the loop some distance above the ground. From this the rider is projected into the air,

where he may make one or more somersaults before he is caught by the receiver. This receiver may be a not, such as 29, or a pond of water or any other desired means which will break the fall of the rider or heighten the effect. This last sectionof the loop extends outwardly in a tangential direction and is supported by a radial arm 28 similar to the radial arms 15 and similarly supported on the transverse bar 13.

Any desired means may be used to enable the rider or performer to travel down the incline and around the. loop. I preferably make use of a carrier 30, which is freely sup ported from the track. This carrier is provided with friction-wheels 31, 32, 33, and 34, which directly engage the way preferably on opposite sides of the track. Any suitable frame, such as 35, may be used in which to mount the wheels3l 32 33 34, and the frame is preferably provided with suitable means for supporting the rider or performer. The latter may, for example, be suspended from a trapeze or he may hang by his teeth. In the form of the invention illustrated the means for supporting the performer comprises the handles 35. These are preferably connected to the carrier by links 36, which are pivoted at 37 to permit a free swinging movement to rider in the plane of the carrier. The links 36 are preferably made of sufficient length to clear the ends of the lower crosspiece of the frame 35. While traveling down the incline or around the loop, the performer may begin to swing sidewise. In order to prevent the carrier from striking any of the supports for the loop and being stopped, I prefer to provide some form of guard. I prefer to mount the guard on the carrier and to make use of a guard 38, suitably tapered, so as to glide off of any arm that it may strike while the performer is going around the loop.

Another form in which my invention may be embodied is shown in Fig. 10. In this modification 40 indicates the track down which the rider travels and around the looped part of which the rider whirls. The track consists of a suitably-supported angle-iron of any desired shape. the friction-wheels 43, link 44, and handles 45, from which the rider hangs. Anopening 41 is provided, through which the link 4A projects. The mode of operation of this modification will be readily understood after reading the description of the construction and operation of the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9.

The operation of my apparatus is as follows: A performer standing on the platform 2 grasps the handles 35 of the carrier 30. Hanging from the carrier the performer descends the incline and whirls around the loop. The centrifugal force developed by his descent and by the curvature of the loop tends to extend his body, which always remains outside of the loop, radially outward and to The carrier 42 comprises.

maintain it in a substantially radial position. On reaching the extremity 27 of the track the performer may turn several somers'aults before reaching the receiving-net 29. The carrier may be retained upon the track by a suitable stop.

Many changes may be made in my apparatus without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus explained the nature of my invention and described a way of construct ing and using it, though without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use, I declare that what I claim is- 1. An aerial centrifugal way, comprising a loop around which the rider travels while under the action of centrifugal force, the said force tending to extend the body of the rider radially with respect to the loop, substantially as described.

2. An aerial centrifugal way, comprising a loop around which the rider travels while under the action of centrifugal force, the body of the rider being maintained without the loop, substantially as described.

3. An aerial centrifugal way, comprising a loop around which the rider travels while under the action of centrifugal force, said force acting against the force of gravity, the body of the rider being maintained without the loop, substantially as described.

4. In an .aerial centrifugal way, the combination of a suitably-curved loop together with means for giving a rider a sufficiently high velocity so that his body will be maintained in a substantially radial position with respect to the loop as he travels around it substantially as described.

5. In an aerial centrifugal way, the combination of a suitably-curved loop together with an incline for giving a rider asufticiently high velocity so that his body will be maintained in a substantially radial position with respect to the loop as he travels around it, substantially. as described.

6. In an aerial centrifugal way, the combi nation of a suitably-curved loop together with an incline for giving a rider a sufficiently high velocity so that his body will be maintained in a substantially radial position with respect to the loop as he travels around it, and a carrier running on the incline, substantially as described.

7. In an aerial centrifugal way, the combination of a suitably-curved loop together with an incline for giving a rider asufficiently high velocity so thathis body will be maintained in a substantially radial position with respect to the loop as he travels around it, and a carrier running on the incline, the carrier being provided with grooved frictionwheels, substantially as described.

8. An aerial centrifugal Way, comprising a vertical loop around which the rider travels while under the action of centrifugal force,

the said force tending to extend the body of the rider radially with respect to the loop, substantially as described.

9. An aerial centrifugal way, comprising a vertical loop around which the rider travels while under the action of centrifugal force, the body of the rider being maintained without the loop, substantially as described.

10. In an aerial centrifugal way, the combination of a suitably-curved vertical loop together with an incline for giving a rider a sufficiently high velocity so that his body will bemaintained in a substantially radial position with respect to the loop as he travels around it, substantially as described.

11. In an aerial centrifugal way, the combination of a suitably-curved vertical loop together with an incline for giving a rider a sufficiently high velocity so that his body will be maintained in a substantially radial position with respect to the loop as he travels around it, and a carrier running on the incline, substantially as described.

12. In an aerial centrifugal way, the combination of an inclined cableway, a loop forming a continuation of the cableway, and

means for enabling a rider to travel along the way and around the loop, substantially as described.

13. In an aerial centrifugal way, the combination of an inclined cableway, a vertical loop forming a continuation of the cableway, and means for enabling a rider to travel along the way and around .the loop, substantially as described.

. 14. An aerial centrifugal way comprising a loop, the way of the loop terminating in a free end, substantially as described.

15. An aerial centrifugal way comprising a loop, the Way of the loop so terminating that the car or rider is projected from the way, substantially as described.

16. In a centrifugal way, the combination of a loop and a terminal track leading from the loop, the terminal havinga projecting end, substantially as described.

17. In an aerial centrifugal way, the combination of a loop, an inclined way leading thereto, and a terminal trackleadingfrom the loop, the terminal being provided with a projecting end, substantially as described.

18. In an aerial centrifugal way, the combination of a loop, an inclined flexible cable leading thereto, and a terminal track leading from the loop, the terminal being provided with a projecting end, substantially as described.

19. In acentrifu gal way,the combination of a loop, aterminal track leading from the loop, the terminal being provided with a projecting end, and means for receiving the rider after he leaves the terminal, substantially as described.

20. In an aerial centrifugal way, the combination of a loop, an inclined flexible cable leading thereto, a terminal track leading from the loop, the terminal being provided with a projecting end, and means for receiving the rider after he leaves the terminal, substan-' tially as described.

21. In an aerial centrifugal way,the combination of a loop around which the rider travels under the action of centrifugal force, a flexible track leading thereto, and means for putting the track under tension,substantially as described.

22. In an aerial centrifugal way,the combination of a loop made up of sections, an inclined way consisting of a flexible support leading to the loop, and armored sections covering the support, substantially as described.

23. In an aerial centrifugal way,the combination of a loop made up of tubular sections, an inclined way consisting of a flexible support leading to the loop, a carrier traveling on the support, and armored sections covering the support, substantially as described.

24. In an aerial centrifugal way,the combination of a loop made up of sections, an inclined way consisting of a flexible support leading to the loop, armored sections covering the support, a carrier traveling on the support, and means for supporting a rider from the carrier, substantially as described.

25. In an aerial centrifugal way,the combination of a loop, an inclined way consisting of a flexible support leading to the loop, armored sections covering the support, a carrier traveling on the support, and means enabling the rider to hang from the carrier, substantially as described.

26. In an aerial centrifugal Way, the combination of a spiral loop around which the rider swings while under the action of centrifugal force, the said force acting to extend the body of the rider in a direction radial to the loop,

substantially as described.

27. In an aerial centrifugal way, the combination of a spiral loop around which the rider travels while under the action of centrifugal force, the body of the rider remaining without the loop, substantially as described.

28. In an aerial centrifugal way, the combination of a suitably-curved spiral loop, a carrier from which the rider is supported, together with means for giving the rider ahigh velocity so that his body will tend to extend radially of the loop as he travels around it, substantially as described.

29. In an aerial centrifugal Way, the combination of a vertical spiral loop around which the rider swings while under the action of centrifugal force, the said force acting to extend the body of the rider in a direction radial to the loop, substantially as described.

30. In an aerial centrifugal way, the combination of a vertical spiral loop around which the rider travels while under the action of centrifugal force, the body of the rider remaining without the loop, substantially as described.

31. In an aerial centrifugal way, the combination of a suitably-curved vertical spiral loop, a carrier from which the rider is supported, to-

gether with means for giving the rider a sufficiently high velocity so that his body will tend to extend radially of the loop as he travels around it, substantially as described.

32. In an aerial centrifugal way, the combination of a track composed of an inclined cableway, a spiral forming a continuation of the track around which the rider travels while under the action of centrifugal force, and means for sending a rider along the track and around the loop, substantially as described. 33.- An aerial centrifugal way comprising a loop around which the performer travels while under the action of centrifugal force, said loop consisting of a rail-like support, a carrier adapted to travel on the support and means for suspending a performer from the carrier.

34. An aerial centrifugal way around which the performer travels while under the action of centrifugal force, said way comprising a loop consisting of a rail-like support of uniform cross-section, a carrier adapted to travel on the support and means for suspending a performer from the carrier.

35. An aerial way comprisinga vertical loop consisting of a rail-like support, a carrier adapted to travel on the support and means for suspending a performer from the carrier.

36. In an aerial centrifugal Way, the combination of a loop consisting of a track of uniform cross-section, an inclined way leading to the loop, and a carrier adapted to travel on the way and to be freely supported by it, substantially as described.

37. In an aerial centrifugal way, the combination of a loop around which a rider travels under the action of centrifugal force, and interior supporting means for the loop, substantially as described.

38. In an aerial centrifugal Way, the combination of a loop consisting of a track of round cross-section, an inclined way leading to the loop, and a carrier adapted to travel on the way and to be freely supported by it, substan-j tially as described.

39. In an aerial centrifugal way, the combination of a loop around which a rider travels under the action of centrifugal force, an in-. terior supporting means for the loop, and means for preventing the loop from turning on the supporting means, substantially as described.

40. In an aerial centrifugal way, the eombination of a loop around which a rider travels under the action of centrifugal force, an interior supporting means for the loop, and connecting-links between the loop and the sup porting means for preventing the loop from turning on the supporting means, substan tially as described.

, 41. In an aerial centrifugal way, the combination of a loop around which a rider travels under the action of centrifugal force, an interior supporting means for the loop, and means for bracing the loop against transverse strains, substantially as described.

42. In an aerial centrifugal way, the combination of a loop around which a rider travels under the action of centrifugal force, an interior supporting means for the loop, and guyropes for bracing the loop against transverse strains substantially as described.

43. In an aerial centrifugal way, the combination of a loop around which a rider travels under the action of centrifugal force, an interior supporting means for the loop, means for preventing the loop from turning on the supporting means, and means for bracing the loop against trans verse strains, substantially as described.

44. In an aerial centrifugal Way, the combination of a loop, an interior supporting means, and arms projecting from the sup porting means and connected to the loop,-substantially as described.

45. In an aerial centrifugal way, the combination of a loop around which a rider travels under the action of centrifugal force, a support traversing the interior of the loop, and means for supporting the loop from the support, substantially as described.

46. In an aerial centrifugal way, the combi nation of a loop, a pair of uprights, a crossbar connecting the uprights, and means for supporting the loop from the cross-bar, substantially as described.

47. In an aerial centrifugal way, the combination of a loop, a pair of uprights, a pair of cross-bars connecting the uprights,and means for supporting the loop from the cross-bars, substantially as described.

48. In an aerial centrifugal way, the combination of a loop, a pair of uprights, a crossbar connecting the uprights, means for supporting the loop from the cross-bar, and guyropes for bracing the uprights, substantially as described.

49. In an aerial centrifugal way, the combination of a loop, a pair of uprights, a pair of cross-bars connecting the uprights, means for supporting the loop from the cross-bars, and guy-ropes for bracing the said uprights, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLAUDE L. I-IA GEN.

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